Mastering f-Stops for Cinematic Lighting

[@nelsonhayes4]

This was one of the single most useful videos I have ever seen. The square root part made everything click in a way it never has before. Thank you!

[@kevinbillington9773]

Was on a film shoot at night with lights and the 1st camera using a GH5 was shooting on a wide lens, I was on an 85mm on S1H, he was insistent on the exact same ISO and F stop. I was complaining the shot was too dark. Then the lighting guy and first camera guy stated if I didn't match with iso and f stop it would cause problems in post. So I notched down F stop by 1 stop and I spoke to the editor and that nights shoot was far too dark to use. I knew with the full frame and longer lens I couldnt be using identical settings. But you have just confirmed it thank you.

[@tomn.9610]

You are one of the best on KZbin at explaining these complex concepts. Thanks for the great video !!!!!!!!!

[@FilmSkills]

Thanks so much! I have a lot of practice teaching at UCLA. I just know that not everyone can afford a top level film school, so I try to help.

[@poeticfigher]

I feel like i need to watch this a few times for it to fully set in but thanks for the detailed explaination.

[@marxmorrisus80]

I have always been confused until I found this video... thank you for explicating this topic

[@albertscheichstein4242]

really good and profound lesson according to the fundamental understanding of one of the most important technical concepts behind the art of photography and cinema. Ty!

[@haroldmorganTulsa]

I very much needed to understand this. Now I do. A million thanks.

[@FilmSkills]

A million "you're welcomes" :)

[@vineeshmatthew121]

this is a very good video... explained in a very simple way... thank you

[@ratt57]

Wow, thanks for an awesome video! It would be great if you could do a video about using f-stops and ISO settings together!

[@ramanvaidya6694]

Thanks❤ brother you are great

[@pramod9477]

Wow... I wish i would join your course...but.. Great explanation

[@VIDEOARTofficial]

Thanks for the great video.

[@DanielTuriman]

Thanks, very detail, can you give tutorial how to use light meter

[@shamarmilton8626]

very very helpful!!!

[@youtubereact_v1]

Cameramen are genius

[@AndreiVaida]

Excellent explained, incredible useful!

[@linuskentr]

Why do you open up a stop and a half from 5.6? Would you not want to have the light be reading the same as the aperture setting?

[@villadante]

The lightmeter is set to middle grey, you dont want a caucasian skin tone exposed to that. It would look too dark, thats why he went one stop and a half up.

[@monoarhossain524]

Really helpful

[@joharinichols2652]

Enjoyed the video. What is the light meter you're using in this vid? Another question: what is the cheapest light meter on the market that you would recommend for filming? Thank you.

[@FilmSkills]

I am not versed enough in every manufacturer’s light meter, but I use a Sekonic and love it. Whatever you buy. Make sure it’s a combo incident meter and spot meter.

[@joharinichols2652]

@@FilmSkills thank you.

[@SpyrosPerdiou]

Great tutorials! Thank you!!! I have a question: when you said that her skin will appear as middle grey, so you had to open up your aperture 1,5 stops, the (graphic) meter on the screen didn't move. So, what was the actual value of the aperture on the lens/camera? 5,6 or, let's say, 3,5? In general, don't we just dial in our camera, the f value that we read on our light meter (since it is incident light...)? Thanks in advance! :)

[@FilmSkills]

So I have two parts to my answer. Firstly, I never use an incident meter because that measures the brightness of the light source. What really matters is the brightness of light reflected off a surface, which is why I only use a spot meter. Secondly, you're right. If I set my aperture to match the light meter reading of the actor's face, her skin tones would read as 18% middle grey. But, that would be too dark - she is pretty fair skinned. I opened up by 1.5 f-stops because her skin tones are 1.5 f-stops brighter than middle grey. I run through these tests in the second half of this video. Whenever I start a new project, I take a meter reading of a middle grey card, then under the same light, I line up each actor and take a spot meter reading of their forehead to establish how much brighter/darker their skin tones are compared to middle grey. That's how I knew this particular actor's skin tones were 1.5 f-stops brighter than middle grey. Hope that makes sense!

[@SitinprettyProductions]

​@@FilmSkillsah that makes so much sense now

[@clurkroberts2650]

So how did you set the light meter to match the sensitivity of the sensor? What ASA or Shutter. Or else, why don’t you just look at your waveform?

[@FilmSkills]

I set the light meter to an ASA of 800, the native ISO for this camera. And I typically use waveform monitors, but I produced this video to teach you about f-stops and T-stops. I have about 5 videos that cover all aspects of exposure.

[@firasalouini1870]

what the name of the gear u use it for checking light

[@FourLoopMedia]

Is it just me or does this dude look like he could be Elon Musk’s brother?

[@FilmSkills]

Um, I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or not. Haha

[@benjamincowen1764]

Or his clone